The assumptions of computing

ABSTRACT

The use of computers, like any technological activity, is not content-neutral. Users of computers constantly interact with assumptions regarding worthwhile activity which are embedded in any computing system. Directly questioning these assumptions in the context of computing allows us to develop an understanding of responsible computing.

REFERENCES

• 1: Frederick P. Brooks, Jr., The mythical man-month (anniversary ed.), Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1995
• 2: Hubert Dreyfus, "What Computers Still Can't Do," The Key Reporter, Phi Beta Kappa, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 4-8.
• 3: Allen Emerson , Cheryl Forbes, Invasion of the Computer Culture: What You Need to Know about the New World We Live In, InterVarsity Press, 1989
• 4: Lloyd Kwast, "Understanding Culture", in Perspectives on the World Chr, st,an Movement, eds. Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne. William Carey Library, 1992, pp. C3-6.
• 5: Stephen Monsma, ed., Responsible Technology. Eerdmans, 1986.
• 6: Neil Postman, Technopoly: The Surrender of Cullure 1o Technology. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
• 7: Joseph Weizenbaum, Computer Power and Human Reason: From Judgment to Calculation, W. H. Freeman & Co., New York, NY, 1976

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.3 Organizational Impacts

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.2 Social Issues

General Terms:
Human Factors, Theory